Local leaders are the heart of marine conservation in Madagascar. The Ocean Defenders initiative highlights and supports these heroes in preserving the island’s ecosystems. Ten exceptional leaders were selected, each working tirelessly in the face of illegal fishing, habitat destruction, and political hurdles. They represent countless individuals from marine protected areas (MPAs), Locally Managed Marine Areas
The Department of Marine Conservation, Zanzibar, with support from the Wildlife Conservation Society under the Blue Action Fund Project and Bloomberg, is working to establish two new Marine Conservation Areas (MCAs) in Eastern Pemba, covering approximately 1,000 sq km. The MCAs aims are to effectively manage and conserve the marine resources for the current and
In the framework of the Varuna Biodiversity Project’s annual call for companionship, a transformative regional peer-to-peer exchange took place from June 4th to 11th, bringing together six individuals from Mauritius and Madagascar. This group included Reef Conservation staff, Anse La Raie Voluntary Marine Conservation Area (VMCA) community members, and experienced members from the MIHARI Network.
Mafia Island Marine Park, in collaboration with stakeholders WWF through the BAF project and JICA, has successfully trained 170 seaweed farmers from eight villages within the park. These villages include Chemchem (6), Chole (20), Jibondo (90), Juani (20), Kiegeani (3), Kungwi (15), Miburani (5), and Mlongo (11). The training sessions were conducted at different times
Nestled along Kenya’s pristine coastline, the Kiunga Marine National Reserve is home to diverse and vibrant marine ecosystems. To preserve these ecosystems, the reserve management launched a Gear Exchange Program in partnership with various stakeholders. This initiative encourages local fishermen to adopt sustainable fishing practices by exchanging their old, destructive beach seine nets for environmentally
Le Parc National Cœlacanthe (PNCoe) a franchi une étape importante vers la conservation marine en signant neuf accords de co-gestion avec les communautés de neuf des quinze villages situés dans le parc. Ces accords visent à établir trois nouvelles réserves naturelles, couvrant une superficie totale de 29,15 km², et à réglementer la participation des communautés
Mafia Island Marine Park (MIMP) is dedicated to conserving marine habitats, including coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass, seaweed, and beaches. The park operates as a co-managed Marine Protected Area (MPA) in collaboration with local communities. Each village within the park’s boundaries has a Village Liaison Committee (VLC) and a Village Enforcement Unit (VEU) that serve as
In a commendable effort to enhance marine conservation, from 14th to 28th May 2024, C3 Madagascar team and 13 leaders from Locally Managed Marine Areas (LMMAs) from Nosy Hara MPA and Bay of Rigny KBA in the North-West of Madagascar have embarked on an insightful journey to improve their skills in governance, monitoring, planning, communication, stakeholder engagement,
The breathtaking coral reefs of the Western Indian Ocean are home to a diverse array of marine life, but they face significant threats due to climate change, pollution, and overfishing. To combat these challenges, the Association d’Intervention pour le Développement et l’Environnement (AIDE) and Mohéli National Park recently joined forces with the Institut Halieutique des
A new era of environmental education has begun at Anse Boileau Secondary School in Seychelles. On 9th April, Minister of Education Dr. Justin Valentin inaugurated an environmental activity centre at the school, marking an exciting milestone in fostering a new generation of conservationists. The centre, donated by Nature Seychelles, is part of the Locally Empowered
